Cape Vidal - Feb 2020

Good day As per the dates attached (05 Feb to 26 Feb 2020) we were camping at Cape Vidal this Feb. On morning of Friday the 21st of Feb 2020, at about 10am we all got ready to go to the beach for some swimming, snorkelling and fishing. As we were 6 adults and 1 child we used my SUV and our big trailer (a two ton capacity trailer, so nothing like a venter trailer) to drive from our campsite to the beach parking area, as per normal for us. As I stopped my vehicle a gentleman by the name of Mr. Mike Bouwer approached us and indicated that we should not have people standing on the back of the trailer when driving in the camp area, he indicated that should we wish to transport people like this we should have them sit down, he was actually very professional and friendly during our conversation. After the conversation we started unpacking everything to go to the beach, the next moment Mr. Bouwer came to me again and very aggressively said to me ‘ You will stop using this trailer immediately, as you have already been warned not to transport anyone on this trailer’ I indicated to him that no-one ever said anything to me, he then called one of the KZN wildlife employees over to us that apparently said that they spoked to us already. I then asked the individual, when did he indicate this to me? He had the following response: 1. No, they never told me, but someone in my group, he said the following “many people have been driving this vehicle and they spoke to one of them “ 2. That they even indicated this to us the previous day – that we may not use the trailer After this, Mr. Bouwer then very roundly said to me “STOP IT, the employee has no reason to lie to me”. He basically told me that I am lying. This all happened in full view of the following people. a. My family and friends, this included my parents and my small son b. KZN Wildlife employees c. Other holiday makers I was humiliated and called a **** in full view of all these people, and on my holiday. He walked away and I then helped my family to get everything to the beach. After this I then walked back to the vehicle where the incident happened to speak to him, as this upset me terribly. This has been my favourite holiday destination for the last 30 years. Unfortunately, Mr. Bouwer already left as per the Park employees on duty. I wanted to highlight the following to Mike Bouwer: 1. No one ever told us we may not use that trailer, not only that, every day you see bakkies and boats with people standing on them, even standing on the back of bakkies, even boats with tractors pulling them with people standing on the boats. For the last 7 years we have been doing it this way, never has it been communicated. We are aware that people are not allowed on the back of a trailer on a public road but did not see the road from the campsite to the beach as public. 2. The employee had every reason to lie to you, they did not want to look like they were not doing their jobs, as they probably should have spoken to us in the beginning 3. You approached us on the 21st, I have been at Cape Vidal as of the 05th……? So, during all that time, I was using the trailer with no issue, should someone not have indicated to me that this was a problem? We would have stopped immediately. Surely with all that time there would have been some-one saying something or even recording or escalating the issue, especially as this was 15 days after our arrival. 4. I would also like to highlight that no person in my group were told that we may not stand on the back of the trailer and they do not have any reason to lie to me. 5. After the 21st, we never again used the trailer to go down to the beach area, stopping immediately as we were now made aware of this issue 6. Also on the day your KZN college indicated they warned us, we were in St Lucia, our gate pass and restaurant slip will proof that (20th of Feb 2020) 7. With the trailer at the back of my vehicle, I am the only one that can drive the vehicle and reverse with it, so if they spoke to anyone it should have and could have only be me 8. No one has every driven my vehicle other than me and my wife – ever, we do not allow it. We have had no incidents or issues at Cape Vidal ever, to have had an experience like this was shocking and embarrassing to say the least, especially as I have always felt like an ambassador for Cape Vidal, its people, animals and natural beauty. Now I am not sure I will ever return.....